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Macho Again 'ready to roll' in Clark

Macho Again's last trip under the Twin Spires resulted in a Stephen Foster win (EquiSport Photos) The heavy lifting is all done and according to trainer Dallas Stewart, MACHO AGAIN (Macho Uno) is "ready to roll" for Friday's 135th running of the Clark H. (G2) at Churchill Downs. "I feel good about our chances," Stewart said of Macho Again, who is owned by West Point Thoroughbreds. "I like where we are, he loves this track and he worked great yesterday (five furlongs in 1:01 1/5)." Macho Again has compiled a record of 5-3-1-0 at Churchill Downs, with his biggest victory coming in June's Stephen Foster H. (G1) in which he defeated likely Clark rivals EINSTEIN (Brz) (Spend a Buck) and BULLSBAY (Tiznow). The Clark will be Macho Again's first start since finishing fourth in the Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1) on October 3. "There was no pace in that race and things just didn't pan out that day," Stewart said.

Macho Again came down with a cough after the Jockey Club that forced Stewart to cancel a trip to Santa Anita for the Breeders' Cup Classic (G1). Since recovering from the brief setback Macho Again has had three five-furlong works.

The four-year-old colt's top effort of 2009 was a runner-up effort to Horse of the Year contender Rachel Alexandra (Medaglia d'Oro) in the Woodward (G1) at the Clark H. distance of 1 1/8 miles.

"That was a great race," Stewart said of the Saratoga race in which Macho Again came the closest of any horse this year to Rachel Alexandra in falling a head short. "One more jump...that would have made my year."

Stewart said that Macho Again would ship with his barn to Fair Grounds at the end of the meet, with the initial plans for 2010 being the Sunshine Millions Classic at Santa Anita on January 30 or the Donn H. (G1) on February 6 at Gulfstream Park.

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